Castro and Chavez Split Over Obama: Gazeta of Russia

Could it be that a breach has opened up between Latin America’s leading anti-imperialists, Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro? In this wide-ranging analysis of recent comments made by the two leaders, who have both been courting Russia over recent years, Russian journalist Evgeny Trifonov fleshes out his claim.

According to Trifonov’s article from Russia’s Gazeta, the breach is due to a number of factors, the principal one being recent overtures by Castro toward President Obama – which stand in stark contrast to the incendiary comments of Chavez.

Of recent signals from Fidel,Trifonov writes in part:

“It’s been a while since Fidel issued any statement of public support for his ‘pupil’ Chavez. Apparently, a black cat has scampered between the two comandantes. Most likely, one factor in the cooling of relations between Chavez and Castro (not the only one, but the most principal one) relates to the new president of the United States, Barack Obama. … Fidel Castro, after half a century of opposition, including armed confrontation, has declared the beginning of an era of rapprochement with the United States.”

And of Chavez, Trifonov writes in part:

“Chavez believes that Barack Obama has already begun meddling in Venezuela’s domestic political problems, proven by, according to Venezuelan leader, the financial support and ‘advice’ being offered his opposition. … Further, Chavez hypothesized that Barack Obama would turn out even worse than George Bush … and stressed that he has no great hopes for Obama, who he said would most likely become the newest ‘fiasco’ for his own people: ‘If Obama fails to obey the demands of the empire (its ruling elite), he will be killed like Kennedy was killed, like they slew Martin Luther King; like they slew Abraham Lincoln, who freed the blacks and paid for it with his life. Therefore, I don’t expect anything good from Obama – just the same ‘stench’ as his predecessor.’”

By Evgeny Trifonov

Translated By Yekaterina Blinova

January 27, 2009

Russia – Gazeta – Original Article (Russian)

After half a century of opposition, Fidel Castro has proclaimed the beginning of an era of rapprochement with the United States. The banner of struggle against U.S. imperialism on the Latin American continent has been intercepted by Hugo Chavez.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has always referred to Castro as his “father, brother, teacher and comrade,” recently made an unusual announcement. According to Chavez, the leader of the Cuban Revolution, due to his recent illness, would no longer be able to participate in official public events. In doing so, Chavez allowed himself to do what would only be appropriate for Fidel, or in an extreme case, a member of his immediate family. It should be noted that it’s been a while since Fidel himself issued any statement of public support for his “pupil” Chavez. Apparently, a black cat has scampered between the two comandantes. Most likely, one factor in the cooling of relations between Chavez and Castro (not the only one, but the most principal one) relates to the new president of the United States, Barack Obama.

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